Latch needle



March 21, 1944. A. R. COLE 2,344,850

LATCH NEEDLE- Filed NOV 18, 1942 Inventor ALFRED R. COLE -Atto ey Patented Mar. 21, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application November 18, 1942, Serial No. 466,039 In Great Britain September 24, 1941 4 Claims.

This invention is for a latch needle, and its primary object is the provision of a latch needle specifically intended for the machine production of the ladder-resistant knitted fabric forming the subject of British Letters Patent No. 447,060.

The needle of the present invention comprises a body provided at one end with a hook having a bifurcated end whereby there is provided a pair of prongs or points disposed one in front of the other, in the plane of the hook and body. The outer prong is preferably shorter than the inner one, and the two are so disposed in relation to the latch as to be both shielded by the latch when it is in its closed position, whereby a loop may be cast off without interference by either prong.

The foregoing and other features of the invention set out in the appended claims are incorporated in the needle illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which Figure l is a view of the complete needle, and

Figure 2 shows the head thereof on a larger scale.

In the preferred construction illustrated the needle resembles a conventional latch needle in the provision of a butt ill, a hook I l, and a latch l2 for closing the hook. The hook is, however, rather longer than is usual; that is to say, that part llb which extends downwards at the front of the needle from the head thereof towards the latch spoon l2a when latch is closed, is longer than usual. The sides of the said part are fiattened somewhat (indicated at lla.) and near its tip its front edge is cut back, notched, or rebated as at lll so as to form the prongs Ho and Illa. This cut-back, notch or the like extends deeply into the material of the said part llb, so that the prong llc comprises only a slender piece or finger of material extending from the top of the throat Ill and forming the tip of the hook.

This prong He may be of sufficient length to act as a guide to the thread fed to the prong llla.

It will be noted that the tip of the prong llla is above the tip of the prong llc, and the latch I2 is so dimensioned and arranged that when it is closed the extremity or tip of the said prong l lc is received in that end of the spoon I2a which is nearest to the hinge l3, and the end of the latch spoon lies against the tip of prong llla. The latch l2 therefore closes the throat or notch lll between the prongs He and llla. as Well as that between the prong Ho and the body of the needle, permitting yarn or thread to be held therein while being drawn through a loop or loops which is/are being cast off over the closed latch.

I claim:

1. A latch needle for knitting machines and the like, comprising a body provided with a hook having a pair of spaced prongs at its tip, one of which is longer than the other; and a latch carried by said body arranged to cover both of said prongs when in its closed position.

2. A latch needle, comprising a body provided with a hook having a bifurcated tip providing a pair of prongs spaced one in front of the other in the plane of the hook and body; and a latch carried by the body arranged to close the throat between the prongs, as well as the throat between the body and the inner prong.

3. A latch needle according to claim 2, wherein the inner prong is longer than the outer prong.

4. A latch needle according to claim 2, wherein the sides of the pronged portion of the hook are flattened.

ALFRED REYMES COLE. 

